Kia Motors has announced today that tennis superstar Rafael (‘Rafa’) Nadal has committed to continuing his role as the Korean auto maker’s global brand ambassador for another five years.

The Spanish tennis sensation and former #1 ranked player in the world, who has won 14 Grand Slam tournaments throughout his career, has acted as the global brand ambassador for Kia since 2006. Nadal is one of the most popular sportsmen in the world.

The new collaboration, announced today at a ceremony in Madrid, Spain, will see ‘Rafa’ continue to promote Kia’s modern, high quality cars and the brand’s youthful and dynamic values around the world. Nadal, 28, will continue to appear in Kia’s global advertising campaigns across TV, print and social media, and will help promote Kia by taking part in international events, including the Kia-sponsored Australian Open tennis championship and major international motor shows.

The last nine years of collaboration between Nadal and Kia has seen the tennis star take part in a range of activities around the globe, including driving in a series of thrilling videos from the car manufacturer and also selling his Kia pro_cee’d for charity.

Rafael Nadal said, “Kia Motors has become a top car brand and I have seen many great changes and improvements through the years. It’s been great fun working with the team over the last nine years, and I’m delighted to continue our partnership as I can’t wait to see what the future holds for both of us.”

Thomas Oh, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Kia Motors Corporation, commented, “Rafa has been the perfect partner for Kia, helping us elevate the brand on a global scale. He epitomizes vibrancy and dynamism in everything he does – characteristics we try to include in every Kia model. We’re incredibly excited to continue this collaboration for at least five more years.”

Nadal took the tennis world by storm when he made his professional debut in 2001 at the age of just 15 years old. He won 10 professional ATP titles before his 20th birthday, an achievement unmatched in the Open Era, and has racked up over 720 career wins. His latest Grand Slam win was at the 2014 French Open, placing him in a tie for second place on the all-time list of Grand Slam men’s’ singles titles.

Kia has partnered with Nadal in Spain since 2004, using him as the ‘face' of the company in TV, print and social media marketing campaigns to boost the Kia brand in the Spanish market.

Kia Motors vehicles in the Philippines are exclusively distributed by Columbian Autocar Corporation.